Types of Definitions

1. Definition
Definition is a mode of paragraph development that
answers the questions: What is it? What does it
mean? What are its special features?
It clarifies the meaning of a word or a concept and it
also limits the scope of that particular word or
concept.

2. Techniques of Defining
Formal Definition- defining the term by giving the class
where the word/term belongs (genus) and the
characteristics that distinguish the term from other
terms, known as the differentia.
Term Genus Differentia
Definition A mode of paragraph
development
That answers the
questions: what is t,
what does it mean, or
what is its special
features

3. Formal Definition
Democracy is a form of government in which all
eligible citizens participate equally---either directly
or through elected representatives---in the proposal,
development, and creation of laws.

4. Extended Definition- is needed to define abstract
concepts.
It allows one to broaden the definition by using
analogy, metaphors, comparison and contrast,
description analysis, functions, etymology, and
semantic origin.

5. Extended Definition
It encompasses social, economic, and cultural
conditions that enable the free and equal practice
political self-determination.

6. Definition by Etymology- the origin of word is traced

7. Definition by Etymology
The term originates from the Greek (demokratia)
“rule of the people, which was coined from (demos)
“people” and (kratos) “power” or “rule” in the 5th
century BCE to denote the political systems then
existing in Greek city-states, notably Athens.

8. Definition by Contrast- The word is defined by the
use of opposites.

9. Definition by Contrast
The term is an antonym (aristokratia) “rule of an
elite”.
While theoretically these definitions are in
opposition, in practice, the distinction has been
blurred historically.

10. Definition by Example- Giving examples

11. Definition by Example-
The political system of Classical Athens, for example,
granted democratic citizenship to an elite class of free
men and excluded slaves and women from political
participation.
In virtually all democratic governments throughout
ancient and modern history, democratic citizenship
consisted of an elite class until full enfranchisement was
won for all adult citizens in most modern democracies
through suffrage movements of the 19th and 20th
centuries.

12. Definition by Synonyms- Using a similar word or
phrase to define a word

13. Definition by Function- stating what the term is for

14. Definition by Analogy- Comparing the term to
another object/concept/idea that shares the same
characteristic

15. Definition by Comparison and Contrast

16. Definition by Negation- defining the term by stating
what it is not.